Aspire Dental Reviews 90

I’m posting this anonymously as the dental industry is small, but I feel it’s important to share an honest account of my experience on the PG Dip Clear Aligners course with Aspire.

To start on a positive note, Matt (the orthodontic specialist who delivers much of the teaching) is the only real highlight of the programme. He is approachable, clearly very knowledgeable, and generous with both his time and expertise. His teaching is engaging and clinically relevant.

Unfortunately, that’s where the positives end.

The course materials are poorly structured and not fit for purpose. The “course text” is essentially a printed duplication of Matt’s slide decks — often 300+ pages long — with minimal consolidation. Much of the content consists of near-identical slides with very small incremental updates, making it extremely difficult to revise or extract key learning points. To make matters worse, important updates are sometimes made after printing but are not provided to delegates, even when specifically requested.

The organisation and administration of the course are deeply disappointing. We were clearly told that completion required submission of 8 clinical cases and a final exam. After submitting cases, there has been no communication regarding the exam, no feedback, and no confirmation of diploma progression. To date, no certificate has been issued. This lack of follow-through undermines the credibility of the entire qualification.

There is also a noticeable lack of professionalism in how delegates are treated. Certain individuals appear to be favoured, with a clique forming around them, while others are largely ignored. This creates an uncomfortable and exclusionary learning environment.

Overall, the experience feels like a transactional one: significant fees are taken upfront, but the promised support, structure, and completion pathway are not delivered. Meanwhile, delegates continue to receive frequent marketing emails promoting additional courses.

This was both my first and last course with Aspire.

completed the Aspire Restorative Course back in 2016 and have attended several Aspire courses since. Most recently, I completed their Conversations course, which focuses on how to communicate effectively with patients, including how to deliver difficult or sensitive information.

The course was genuinely insightful. While it is highly relevant to dentistry, its value goes far beyond clinical settings. The psychology behind communication, understanding behaviour, and structuring conversations is applicable to everyday life as well. It is one of the most impactful courses I have done, precisely because the skills translate so easily outside dentistry.

The new Aspire building is also impressive and well worth seeing. I would strongly recommend Aspire courses to anyone looking to improve not only their clinical communication, but also how they interact with people more broadly.

One of the best investments you will make in your life.You are provided with tools to become a highly skilled dentist and lead a highly fulfilled life-what else do we need?Dentistry,Consistency,Discipline,Attention to detail,Philosophy and Psychology all beautifully blended in to create this unique course.

Thank you ever so much,deeply grateful :)

I joined Aspire based on word of mouth. I felt I had come across the name before, and since a couple of my colleagues from the practice were joining, I decided to jump in with them.

I imagined it would be a good course where I could learn or refresh my knowledge, as with other courses.

Little did I know that, right from the first day, I would be thrown into the amazing and exciting depths of human psychology by Richard, who presents with immense passion. Raheel has an otherworldly attention to detail and is a master at approaching everything systematically. Both of them can easily break apart complicated concepts into their simple logical elements, giving you those “aha” moments. You learn clear, simple protocols—both clinical and interpersonal—which lift away confusion and massively increase your confidence, removing insecurities and any traces of impostor syndrome.

On top of that, I joined a community of fellow delegates where I can exchange advice on clinical cases and personal dilemmas, with the team always more than happy to help.

If you love psychology in general, or clear, evidence-based, efficient and effective systematic approaches to dentistry, I cannot recommend Aspire enough.

Thanks, Raheel and Richard, for a completely unique experience! I’m looking forward to the next one.

The Diploma in Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry was an excellent experience. Raheel and Richard bring energy, knowledge, and enthusiasm, making learning enjoyable and impactful. I’ve gained invaluable skills that have advanced my career, and I look forward to continuing my journey with Aspire. Even colleagues who studied elsewhere often remark that they weren’t taught the techniques I’ve learned here

Great occlusion course. For two days I learnt it in a way that I implement it immediately in practice on Monday. Thank you

I would like to thank Richard, Raheel and the rest of the Aspire team for all the help and teaching I have received from them for the past 2 years. I have genuinely learnt a lot and feel I have grown significantly as a dentist and as a person. What I feel like I have gained the most from this course is that it isn't just 'another dental course', as it covers so many other topics such as human psychology, communication, personal wellbeing, self development and so on. Having Richard and Raheel as mentors has also been motivation for me to push myself harder seeing what they have been able to achieve in their own lives. Finally I would like to say I am grateful that they have created a wonderful community in Telos so cover topics such as personal health and wellbeing, which is something I am deeply interested in.

I recently completed the Aspire year-long restorative course.
It gave me new-found confidence in my skills as a dentist; and more importantly an insight into the psychology of communicating with patients effectively. The fact we were able to practice in a clinical skills lab so consistently helped me really improve my clinical skills.
Richard and Raheel are incredibly passionate teachers but also very approachable and happy to help with anything! Grateful for my experience.

I recently completed The Aspire conversations course and it was such a wonderful experience. I learned how powerful a good conversation can be and the key elements involved. The course provided practical exercises to apply these new skills, which I've already started using with noticeable positive changes. Highly recommended

So delightful to have been greeted by the front desk, seen on time by the dentist, the dentist was so patient and knowledgeable, she adviced me of my treatment ensured I was completely numb before she started her treatment on my back tooth. Very grateful for all the staff knowledge including the knowledge of one of her staff Sara who conducts esthetics.

I have recently completed the 'Personal Development for Dentists' course with the Aspire team and can with utmost confidence say it is the most important post graduate course I have done in my 10 years of clinical practice.

Often the term 'life changing' is bandied about when referring to courses in dentistry but I mean it when I say this one truly was life changing. The depth of knowledge and intimate detail of each subject presented by Richard over the two days really had an immeasurable impact on how my mindset and lifestyle play a huge impact on my productivity and effectiveness as not only a dentists but as an all-round human being beyond just the clinical side of the profession.

Superbly organised by Richard and Raheel, the course provided a real boost and refocusing of what my goals within in my life and career should centre around as it can be easy to fall into a lull and comfortable pattern after being in the profession for an extended period of time.

If you are considering doing this course with the guys, stop debating and considering, jump in two footed and just do it, you will not regret it!

A great year completing my Advanced Operative Aesthetic and Restorative training. Big thank you to the killer duo Richard and Raheel for making education fun, engaging and to the point.

Richard and Raheel are excellent, passionate teachers. They are really the factor that makes this course stand out from any other. As well as massively upgrading my dental skills over the last year, I feel my communication with patients and my confidence has improved with it. Thankyou so much!

Aesthetic and Restorative course.
Without a shadow of a doubt the best course I’ve ever been on. The teaching given and the mentorship provided is outstanding. Investing in this course has changed me professionally and personally for the better.

I have recently completed the Ultimate Denture Course and I am very pleased with the learning outcome. The subjects were taught in a clear and comprehensive manner.

Replacing missing teeth and implant dentistry in particular is one of my main interests and the teachings were incredibly useful for both my removable and fixed prosthodontic work. It really helped me to connect the dots and feel more confident to provide these treatments for my patients.

Any dentist wishing to elevate their knowledge in treating partial or full edentulism, be it with fixed or removable prosthesis, will undoubtedly benefit from this course.

Farhan is clearly knowledgeable and was extremely friendly and approachable. We had theory combined with practical lessons and were given the opportunity to discuss our own cases which I found very helpful.

I have attended a few Aspire courses and always leave feeling more competent and a well rounded clinician.

Many thanks to Aspire and Farhan for offering such a great experience!

Best wishes,
Juliana Brito

Brilliant course with two brilliant clinicians. Very informative and interactive from start to finish. I’ve gained such a confidence in understanding occlusion and look forward to begin implementing tomorrow. Would highly recommend.

This is a bit late but I cannot recommend the advanced operative restorative course enough! It has been revolutionary to my dentistry and has changed my life too! Richard and Raheel are both legends and absolute powerhouses! I have learned so much this year from them!

ASPIRE CONVERSATIONS
Words can not describe how phenomenal this course is. You have to attend to see for yourself. This course will enhance your knowledge and skills to deal with all personality traits that will walk into your surgery. If you find dentistry stressful or you feel you can provide more, but just dont know how to deal with challenging situations, then this is the course for you. You will learn life skills that you will carry with you not just in Dentistry but in your personal life. I made back the course fee in 1 day in practice now. If that isn't success, then I don't know what is.

Amazing course, well presented and very engaging. Life changing both in and out of dentistry. Richard and Raheel are extremely approachable and helpful.

It is by far one of the best courses in Occlusion. Great Investment. I have already recommended it to all my friends who struggle with occlusion.
There is plenty of material to read before the hands-on days to familiarise yourself with simple and complex cases. On the day of the course, everything is explained in a simple manner. The teachers make sure that everyone understands each subject before they move on to the next one. There are a lot of live demos and a lot of hands-on practice! All my questions were answered. I wish I had done this course earlier!!